Weekend pitching matchups

[JerryBeeds]

WEEKEND PITCHING MATCHUPS (2005 Stats)
Friday:
South Carolina: Andrew Cruse, RHP, So. (3-1, 3.54 ERA)
Elon: Matt Chastain, RHP, Sr. (4-3, 4.74 ERA)

Saturday:
South Carolina: Arik Hempy, LHP, Jr. (2-1, 2.63 ERA)
Elon: Lance Cole, RHP, Sr. (7-3, 6.19 ERA)

Sunday:
South Carolina: Forrest Beverly, LHP, Jr. (1-0, 4.50 ERA)
Elon: Steven Hensley, RHP, (t)Fr.

[JerryBeeds]

I am pumped about this year's team. I'm going to all three games. I can't believe baseball season is already here again.

[Spurrierismyhomeboy]

Tanner said today that Havens and Smoak will start this weekend, so right away we get to see the futures of the program.

[scfan5338]

I'm anxious to see what our pitchers can do, especially Arik Hempy. Pitching is going to determine if we win or lose, and a lot of these guys are going to start for the 1st time in their career. Hopefuly we can see good things out of pitchers. Havens and Smoak have a chance to be special players at USC. They were highly recruited and highly drafted. Hopefully they can play up to their hype. If they start on a regular basis, one of them has a chance to be SEC FOTY.

[cockyhoskins]

Tanner said as many as four freshman will play at a time. Two will start as mentioned above.

Two more days!

[IrmoCock]

I am pumped about this year's team. I'm going to all three games. I can't believe baseball season is already here again.
Ditto, ditto, and ditto!!

[blues_cap]

i am glad it is finally here, too, even if it is usc baseball ;) baseball is the only sport where i enjoy the mlb more than college, though. something about the wood bat, pitchers who consistently paint corners and hitters who dont miss pitcher mistakes gets me ready for the season. spring training will report soon. i cant handle too much more time w/o something to watch(i hate basketball) as i have been bored as hell and reading way too many books.

btw, what are everyone's thoughts on the world baseball classic. i think it is great and long overdue, but i also think the timing is almost impossible to make work for the players.

[GAMECOCK_FAN]

When I saw we played Elon a 3-game series to open up the season, I thought, "Here we go with what should be three easy wins." However, after a little investigation, Elon may not be a push over.....

The Elon Phoenix come into the 2006 season fresh off a 32-25 season last year. Elon returns six position starters including the team's top hitter, senior first baseman Chris Price. Price was a second team All-Conference player in the Southern Conference and led Elon in hitting with a .379 batting average as well as four HR and 53 RBI. Also returning for Elon is catcher Drew Davis who started 54 of 57 games last year and batted .327 with three HR and 44 RBI. Senior shortstop Paul Bennett also started 56 games and is back after batting .364 and also stealing 17 bases.

Four of Elon's players also earned several conference honors in the 2006 preseason issue of Baseball America. Price was a preseason All-Conference selection and earned honors for the best strike zone discipline. Bennett was tabbed the best athlete and for the second year Davis was was named the best defensive catcher. Senior Grant Rembert also was recognized for the best power in the conference. Rembert missed most of 2005 due to a wrist injury but briefly hit .429 in nine games with three HR and 11 RBI.

Baseball America ranked Elon fourth in the Southern Conference.

The returning pitching staff for Elon includes senior right-hander Lance Cole, who led Elon in wins last year with a 7-3 record and a 6.19 ERA. Sophomore right-hander Ryan Basham is also back after a 4-3 season in 68 innings pitched and a 5.96 ERA.

Among last year's highlights for the Phoenix included a 10-3 non-conference win at then-ranked No. 6 North Carolina, a non-conference win at Auburn, and a two-out-of three game series victory over No. 22 Coastal Carolina.

Elon hit .308 as a team in 2005 and had a team ERA of 4.99 with 375 strikeouts and 207 walks in 501 2/3 innings pitched.

http://uscsports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/020706aac.html